Anglican Communion, The

   The term used to designate the churches that are in communion with the Church of England and hold the same Faith, Order and Worship. Under this term are included the Church of England, the Church of Ireland, the Church of Scotland, the Churches in British North America, the West Indies, Australia, South Africa and in all the English colonies throughout the world wherever established. The Episcopal Church in the United States is also included in the Anglican Communion, being identical with the Church of England as is set forth in the Preface to the Prayer Book, in which it is declared, "This Church is far from intending to depart from the Church of England in any essential point of doctrine, discipline and worship; or further than local circumstances require." The Anglican Communion is one of the most powerful forces in our modern religious world. From statistics we learn that it has a larger membership than any other religious body among English-speaking people. The following Table taken from the New York World Almanac for 1901 gives some idea of

   THE RELIGION OF ENGLISH-SPEAKING PEOPLE.

   Episcopalians 29,200,000

   Methodists of all descriptions 18,650,000

   Roman Catholics 15,500,000

   Presbyterians of all descriptions 12,250,000

   Baptists of all descriptions 9,230,000

   Congregationalists 6,150,000

   Free Thinkers 5,250,000

   Lutherans, etc 2,800,000

   Unitarians 2,600,000

   Minor religious sects 5,500,000

   Of no particular religion 17,000,000

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   English-speaking population 124,130,000